When to plant strawberries in Burns, OR

Plant strawberry plants in Burns May 14 – Jun 25.

Easy Plant young plants

Why these dates

Burns's typical last spring frost is June 11. As a hardy perennial, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty: Easy
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 12 to 18 inches apart
Planting depth: Crown at soil level: not buried, roots covered
Frost: Hardy perennial; comes back every year
First harvest: A light crop the first summer; full crops from the second year

Step by step

Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant strawberry plants May 14 – Jun 25, 12 to 18 inches apart. Crown at soil level: not buried, roots covered.
Water regularly, mulch with straw, and pinch off runners in the first year so plants put energy into roots.
Harvest: Pick fully red berries every couple of days, in the morning, with the cap attached.

Varieties that do well here

Hood (an Oregon classic)
Shuksan
Seascape (everbearing)
Albion (day-neutral)

Watch out for

Gray mold (botrytis) in wet springs and slugs on ripe berries. Mulch with straw to keep fruit off the soil.

June-bearers give one big crop; everbearers and day-neutrals give smaller harvests through summer. Oregon and Washington breeding programs have produced many of the best varieties for this climate.